London’s alternative rockers The Mercy House are set to shoot a video for “My Disease”, the second single off their critically acclaimed debut album “A Broken State of Bliss”. Filming will take place in London during the first weekend of October and they are reaching out to fans to get involved, not only to appear in the video but to also film the action from the mosh-pit to become part of the final piece.

The band has made a call to arms via their Facebook page and had this to say:

“That’s right! We’re shooting a video for our next single, “My Disease”, and we want YOU to get involved. How? We’ll be shooting at a North London location to be announced (keep an eye on this event page http://on.fb.me/RlqPr3 for details) on the weekend of October 6th/7th. Part of the filming will involve a crowd and we want as many of you crazy fuckers as possible to come down, smash it and just go absolutely mental with us. And by that we mean proper nuts… don’t bother if you just plan to stand around! We’re also encouraging everyone to film the madness with their own cameras/smartphones to be used in the final video, so you can be part of the whole thing beyond just being in front of the camera! Spread the word!!”

Fans can join the official event page on Facebook on this link http://on.fb.me/RlqPr3, where the band will be posting further details about the location and timings along with other details.

“My Disease” can be checked out at http://youtu.be/wVKAj8Tbw-0. The song will be the second single to be released from their debut album “A Broken State of Bliss”, heralded by fans and critics alike as a trend and scene defying record. Its release follows the success of their well received first single “Greed”, which became an instant fan favourite at the band’s notorious live shows after heavy rotation from the likes of Xfm, Kerrang! Radio and Scuzz.

The Mercy House will soon be announcing new dates as they continue to tour the UK throughout 2012 and 2013, poised to strike at the heart of the rock scene with an iron fist.

An album trailer for Kotipelto & Liimatainen‘s forthcoming album ‘Blackoustic‘ has been posted on earMusic’s youtube channel – giving fans the chance to listen to some first snippets of the album while Jani and Timo are talking about how the album came together. Check it out here

The duo, which consists of Strativarious‘ TimoKotipelto & JaniLiimatainen (ex SonataArctica), have been working together and playing acoustic shows for a while which eventually led to the idea of recording an acoustic album – ‘Blackoustic‘ which will see the light of day onOctober 22nd via earMusic.

Groundbreaking hardcore band, Converge have released a brand new track “Shame In the Way” from their highly anticipated new studio album, All We Love We Leave Behind, available October 8th via Epitaph Records (vinyl on Deathwish).

The new track can be heard exclusively Pitchfork.com by going here: http://pitchfork.com/features/show-no-mercy/8950-times-arrow/

Considered one of the most intense, important, and influential metal/hardcore bands of all time, the band’s latest album is the most integral album to date in a catalog that’s celebrated to an almost religious degree by countless fans of punk, metal and hardcore. Creating the most antagonistic and artistic heavy album of the year, All We Love We Leave Behind demonstrates the uncompromising, evolutionary new experimentation that breaks the most aggressive form of music down to its barebones. “Aimless Arrow”, the debut from track from All We Love We Leave Behind, has received much critical acclaim over the past few weeks, including being named “Best New Track” by Pitchfork.

The new album comes with a deluxe package that includes a 48 page full-color hardcover, clothbound book with original art created by front-man Jacob Bannon. Credited with giving rise to a genre and influencing countless bands all over the world, Converge have always been the type of band that never fit into one subculture, creating a sound that is entirely their own.

After the release of All We Love We Leave Behind, Converge will embark on an extended European tour, which will kick off on November 23rd in Cologne, Germany. Full list of dates is below:

‘Greetings And Salutations’ Out on Rude Records on October 16thAnnounce album Pre-Sale and Track Listing & Unveil New Album Artwork! Band hit the UK this November on the Road To Warped and Vans Warped Tour Sold Out Show in London!

Less Than Jake are pleased to announce the track listing and unveil the album artwork for “Greetings and Salutations”. The twelve tracks are pure unfiltered LTJ, Sunny ska mixed with barn-burner punk rock, more intended to get long-time fans and first-time listeners warmed up and moshing in their living rooms and singing along to every lyric. Keeping its signature mix of punk roots and horn-driven melodies, songs like “A Return To Headphones” and “Finer Points of Forgiveness” take the best of old-school Less Than Jake and put on a fresh coat of paint for an amped-up listening experience.

The Full Track Listing is as follows:

1. The New Auld Lang Syne
2. Younger Lungs
3. Goodbye, Mr. Personality
4. A Return To Headphones
5. Flag Holders Union
6. Harvey Wallbanger
7. I Can’t Yell Any Louder
8. View From The Middle
9. Oldest Trick In The Book
10. Done And Dusted
11. Finer Points Of Forgiveness
12. Life Led Out LoudYou can pre-order the album right now on iTuneshttp://itunes.apple.com/it/album/greetings-salutations/id560515471

Twenty years into its pioneering journey, Gainesville, Florida natives Less Than Jake – comprised of lyricist/drummer Vinnie Fiorello, vocalist/guitarist Chris DeMakes, vocalist/bassist Roger Manganelli, saxophonist Peter “JR” Wasilewski, and trombonist Buddy Schaub – have had their fair share of moments. For a band obsessed with interacting with its fans, both online and after shows; for a band that is so concerned with making sure the fan gets the perfect experience, with well-known hijinks in every live performance; for a band with seemingly unlimited creativity in the form of physical products, from custom-made cereal boxes to unique vinyl packaging; and for a band that is so passionate when writing new music, 20 years begins to seem like an even longer amount of time. A lot of moments add up over two decades – teenagers grow into men over two decades – dare we say, things change?

Ever-adapting to the constant change in an unsure music industry, Less Than Jakeis still making cannonball-sized splashes in the deep end while many of its peers timidly eye shallow waters. With the release of “Greetings And Salutations” this sentiment is as true as ever. The twelve-track release recorded at The Moathouse in Gainesville and produced by Less Than Jake’s own Roger Lima, includes both limited edition EP’s “Season’s Greetings” and “Greetings From Less Than Jake” plus two unreleased songs.

Drummer Vinnie Fiorello puts the release into perspective: “We had been writing music in short creative bursts for the last year but looking back at all the songs they wound up more of a cohesive thought, following the moods of the seasons of the year, from the winter through the summer. Greetings And Salutations is as much moody and tense as it is casual and laid back…”

“Greetings And Salutations” is the follow up to 2010′s TV/EP and the band’s last full-length, 2008′s GNV FLA and is being released in Europe and the UK via Rude Records on October 16th. With the rest of the year of worldwide touring ahead, the group is still following through on its mission to please the fan, wherever the fan may be. More so than many bands that have been doing this for so long, Less Than Jake continues to provide output that loyal fans love. From a 16-minute EP of TV theme show cover songs to re-releases of their classic back catalog to live shows of genre staples “Losing Streak” or “Hello Rockview” in their entirety, Less Than Jake has done it all. Less Than Jake will continue to do it all.

“We’re constantly pushing ourselves to come up with new ways to present the band,” says Schaub, “whether it be within the writing of our songs, ideas for keeping our live shows fresh, coming up with crazy new merch ideas, or just coming up with the best joke in the van. Keeping your band new and innovative is the key to lasting around for more than a minute in the minds of fans.”

As the release of “Greetings And Salutations” proves, this isn’t a band content to rest on the laurels of past success. In fact, 2012 is more about pushing forward and breaking new ground, rather than contemplatively reflecting on the success of yesteryear. A constantly innovative force in the industry, DeMakes says the band has managed to stay around so long by staying true to themselves. “Twenty years of blood, sweat and beers,” DeMakes says. “It’s been a privilege and a pleasure. We have survived more trends than we can count and have managed, so far, to leave a legacy of music two decades long. If this counts as a job, sign me up for another 20 years!”

You can also see the new video for the first single, “Goodbye Mr Personality”here.

LESS THAN JAKE return to the UK in November for the VANS WARPED TOUR UK show – as well as the Road To Warped Tour featuring New Found Glory, Man Overboard and The Story So Far. Catch them at the following shows:

Staffordshire up and comers PAPER TIGERS have unveiled a brand new video ahead of the release of their self-released, debut EP “Safe In Words”, which comes out November 5th. ’Back To You’ was directed by Ryan Mackfall of Crashburn Media and is released as a single on October 29th.Very loosely based on concepts and imagery from the film Eyes Wide Shut, the premise of the video is about the notion of going back to a certain situation, person or event that you cannot escape no matter how much you want to or try to block it out via other mediums. Taking DIY to a whole new level, PAPER TIGERS built the set for “Back To You” themselves, to ensure the video looked just the way they wanted it to.”We built two full size rooms and a 30ft corridor from scratch, and decorated them to look visually like a victorian-esque hotel.” Explains vocalist Jim Carter. He continues,”This shoot was probably one of the most ambitious projects we have undertaken as a band, but we truly felt the visuals and imagery for this video had to match the intensity and pace of the track. We really went all out on this and hope it shows our drive, passion and hunger to bring something a little different to the table”A making of and behind the scenes can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehjSLTKoLL8Back to you is the first single and video taken from PAPER TIGERS debut EP ‘Safe In Words’, which is available via iTunes,Amazon,Spotify – from November 5th.Presale for the EP and bundles are available at www.papertigers.bigcartel.comCatch PAPER TIGERS at the following shows:September 28th – The Parr Hall -WarringtonOctober 27th,28th – The Hippyhorror Festival – Foxfields Stoke On TrentThe band will announce a November tour in the coming weeks.

earMUSIC to release brand new album of one of Brazil’s best heavy metal musicians Andre Matos on October 19th, 2012

earMUSIC, the Hamburg based international rock label part of Edel Group, is proud to announce the release of the brand new studio album “The Turn Of The Lights” by one of Brazil’s best heavy metal musicians Andre Matos. After 25 years of worldwide success with his former bands Viper, Angra, Shaman and as a solo artist, Andre Matos will release his best album yet on October 19th, 2012.

The long-awaited new record features the vocalist Andre Matos and his band at its best, consciously exploring the combination of various musical styles. Besides the melodic and symphonic elements that have marked the vocalist’s career, listeners will certainly welcome fantastic new elements of the music. “The Turn Of The Lights” is not kept in only one musical style, on the contrary, it is about freedom. Indeed, the track “Liberty” opens a series of eleven killer songs, full of quality: exciting riffs, catchy melodies, memorable choruses and intelligent lyrics, all built with great taste and performed to perfection.

The excellence acquired in the songwriting is a result of the long-time partnership alongside guitarist and songwriter Hugo Mariutti, who also co-produced the record. The dream team of musicians is completed with the furious and technical solos of guitarist Andre ‘Zaza’ Hernandes, combined with the powerful rhythm section formed by Bruno Ladislau’s precise bass and Rodrigo Silveira’s creative drumming.

Throughout his career, Andre Matos has consistently shown why he is considered as the best Brazilian vocalist ever, and at the same time, one of the best in the entire world. In a great shape, the singer reassures his top-ranked position on the new record and explores some delightful lower vocal notes, without leaving behind his impressive high-pitch ranges, already a trademark.

The album was fully recorded, mixed and mastered at Norcal Studios, in São Paulo, Brazil, by producers Brendan Duffey and Adriano Daga.

Proceeding with his impeccable career built based on devoted work and fidelity to his principles and ideas, Andre Matos writes another important musical chapter in metal history with the release of “The Turn of the Lights”. And be rest assured, some songs of the record will certainly become eternal classics.

Sacred Mother Tongue follow the release of their massively acclaimed EP ‘A Light Shines’ with news of their first full UK tour, ahead of their forthcoming album, ‘Out Of The Darkness’ (out early 2013).

The English four-piece will take their stadium-sized anthems to the stage, alongside Welsh rockers Revoker who released their debut album ‘Revenge For The Ruthless’ on Roadrunner Records in 2011.

BLACK LIGHT BURNS, the avant-garde musical alter ego of Limp Bizkit guitaristWes Borland have announced they are to play their first ever run of UK Shows, following the release of their most recent LP THE MOMENT YOU REALIZE YOU’RE GOING TO FALL, via Ninetone/Membran in August this year.

Wes Borland is excited to return to our shores and showcase Black Light Burns to the UK – he comments;

“Europe, Europe, my dear Europe, how I’ve enjoyed spending my summers for the last 4 years wandering your cobblestone streets. Touring with Limp Bizkit across your continent always awards lots of days off spent falling in love with your beautiful cities and it’s heartbreaking to leave every single time…. but I’m about to step foot on your soil again very soon and as Short Round says in ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom’ there’s “No time for love Dr. Jones!” 21 shows in 23 days and we might even be adding more! Consider the ‘candles of rock’ (copyright Dean Del Rey 2011) lit at both ends! We can’t wait!!”

A limited number of Ticketless VIP packages for these dates will be available for these dates. The package includes a VIP-only t-shirt, poster and laminate as well as early admission into the venue to watch the Black Light Burns soundcheck. Everyone who attends a Black Light Burns concert is invited to meet Wes and the rest of the band after the show at the merch booth.

In 2009, Borland and Black Light Burns hit the road for an extended run with industrial powerhouse, Combichrist, and contributed the track, “I Want You To,” to the Underworld: Rise of the Lycans soundtrack. BLB took a temporary hiatus while Borland stayed busy with a world tour with the reformed Limp Bizkit. In 2012 BLB returned, to the delight of fans, with the track, “It Rapes All In Its Path,” on theUnderworld: Awakening soundtrack, followed by the release of their latest LP “The Moment You Realize Your’e Going To Fall”

earMUSIC to release first ever acoustic album ofStratovarius´ frontman Timo Kotipelto together with Jani Liimatainen (ex Sonata Arctica) on October 19th, 2012

earMUSIC, (Hamburg based international rock label part of Edel Group), is proud to announce the release of “Blackoustic”, the first ever acoustic album by Stratovarius´s frontman and solo artist Timo Kotipelto, joining forces with Jani Liimatainen (formerly of Sonata Arctica).
The duo has been working together and playing acoustic shows for a while, the idea of recording an acoustic album together came from the fans, and so “Blackoustic” will see the light of day on October 19th, 2012, as Kotipelto explains:

“The fans were recording our shows with their cell phones and the´ve been telling us that we should make an album, so they could have better quality recordings of the songs to listen at home. At first we were just joking about it, but after a while we thought ‘Why not? As far as we know, not many people have done it before, at least not within the heavier music genre. Our initial idea was to make a self-financed album with a relatively small pressing and then just maybe sell them at our shows”.

But instead of making it a “fan-club release” the duo has opted to work with the label earMUSIC/Edel, which also releases Stratovarius´s work since the album “Polaris”.

Most of the songs were chosen from the duo’s live set-list, including familiar Stratovarius covers like “Black Diamond” and “Hunting High and Low”, but also songs like “Serenity” and “Sleep Well” from Kotipelto’s solo albums have been given the new acoustic treatment; proving that behind great heavy metal song, there’s very often a stunning melody “screaming” to come out. Furthermore, the album includes beautiful cover versions of Pete Townshend’s “Behind Blue Eyes” and Deep Purple´s classic “Perfect Strangers”.

“Blackoustic” also features a brand new composition: “Where My Rainbow Ends”, written by Jani Liimatainen, who says: “I remembered a song I wrote last winter. Originally it was an instrumental track, but after listening back to it I thought that the melody would work very well with vocals. We re-arranged the song into our acoustic format and – as a slave of habit – I wrote the lyrics for it the night before our last day of recording. It turned out surprisingly beautiful and delicate”.

“Jani’s new song is a beautiful ballad” – adds Kotipelto – “We have quite a few ballads on this album, as even the more rock oriented songs tend to sound more ballad-esque when performed by a duo”.

“Blackoustic” was recorded at Kotipelto‘s cottage at Lappajärvi and mixed and mastered by the Stratovarius guitarist / studio wizard Matias Kupiainen.

The duo will also hit the road in Finland in support of the album, although the first show has been on the sea, performing at the Radio Rock-cruise on the m/s Baltic Princess on September 8th.